Vacation Hangover

I've thought about blogging... and well that's as far as it went.  So this is a little behind the times...

Picking up the car in San Diego went smoothly and Amanda and I stayed in San Diego one night so we didn't have to deal with the traffic between there and L.A.  It was a good idea and I couldn't really argue with her reasoning :)  We went and checked out the Seaport Village shopping center and had dinner on the water!  It was very nice.  We then walked around a little bit more, saw the Midway (but didn't go on it).  It was relaxing and very pretty!

The next day we slowly made our way to Diamond Bar where my Aunt lives.  

We stopped in La Jolla so we could put our feet in the sand, and it was full of life too :D Bonus for us!!!

It was good to see my family in California.  I don't get to spend a lot of time with them so it was very nice to see everyone.  Now that we are closer, it's something I need to do more of!  We stayed there one night and then it was off to Vegas!

It was an awesome couple of days and then off to Utah!  It does feel good being back here, but then ask me again come winter time ;)  I've been applying for jobs and just getting settled.  I did check out the SLC Art Festival the other day.... awesome, and good wine!  I'm getting everything in order for my India trip in a month.  Can't wait for that awesomeness! 

After all my traveling once I got here I felt like I just needed to do do do and get a job!  Granted I DO need a job but I can only do so much.  I've already applied to 4 jobs and I haven't even been here a week yet so that's good.  I'll just keep on with that I'm everything will work out as it should :)  I need to stay busy in order not to get into a funk, which almost happend (thus the vacation hangover)... but I'm doing better now.  Just keep reminding myself I can do only so much, to enjoy this moment, and be open to what is around me!  It makes for a happier ME!

On the road again... more good-byes

Tomorrow I'm off to San Diego to pick up my car, meet up with Amanda, drive about an hour and a half to L.A. to spend some time with some more family :)  After a couple of days in L.A., we're off to Vegas for a couple of days!  On Monday I will finally be in Utah.  This adventure started on 22 May!  I'm so tired of the suitcase living :(  I'm ready for employment and my own place!
I'm not looking forward to tomorrow.  I'll have to say good bye to Mom and to Sami.  Even though Sami has been staying with Mom and Dad while in Hawaii, she was always there... a quick ride to the north shore.  Now... I'll have to settle with pictures.  This evening I told Sami and my Mom that she'll be happier with them, Mom said "keep telling yourself that".  Maybe when I get my own place I can steal her back...
Sometimes it really sucks being an adult :(  Good thing I know a lot of dog people in Utah, I can get my animal "fix" but no one can replace my Sami girl :P

Mini Vacation

I flew out to visit my friend Natalie in Jamestown, PA.  I haven't seen her since 2004!  The first night there we went to a local watering hole for some drinks and pupus.  It was relaxing and interesting.  The next day she put me to work on her working farm (she didn't make me ;)  I helped plant tomatoes, picked strawberries, helped pick broccoli and spinach.  That night we ate so good with a majority of the food coming from their farm, or their pond!

The next day we went to market to sell some goods and then we had a late start to Chicago (8hr road trip).  We got there around 2am and we were silly delirious.  Had fun patching an air mattress and sitting around and talking.  I think we went to bed around 4am :P

Next day... sight seeing.
First stop, Superdawg!

We went to the Field Museum, walked around and saw some cool things of Chicago.

We then walked over to the Buckingham Fountain.  It's claim to fame that most people know is that it was in the opening credits to the show Married With Children.

Kept walking to the Millennium Park.  Chicago has a lot of green and it was just beautiful!  They also had this splash pad with fountains.  The pics are of local chicagoans and they change.

We ended the night with some Ethiopian food.  It was interesting, good flavor, and you eat with your hands and bread.  I would love to go back and spend more time in Chicago.
On Friday there was a parade for the Blackhawks who had just won the Stanley cup so we had to check that out.  It was a lot of fun and we got to see it!  I got tons of pics of buildings and some of the parade but I can't post them all :P
I'll make a slide show and post it later.

I'm getting tired of the traveling but it's nice to have the down time here at the grandparents before heading out to California and then on to Utah.

Farm work

Well, today I made friends with Mr. John Deer.  I was leaving to go pick up Mom from Honey's and Dad asked me if I wanted to help out.  He gave me some quick OJT on tractor mechanics and how to work the front loader and I was set!

Dad did a lot of weed eating and I helped rake stuff up and load the front loader and then I'd drive and dump it in the woods.  Pretty fun but tiring.  This morning I had a bowl of cereal and it wasn't enough!  I was starving by lunch so the spare ribs and green beans really hit the spot!

Once we picked up Mom we made it back over to the Nyander's and got settled.  Then it was back to yard work and tractor driving :)

Tomorrow I'm off to Jamestown PA to visit my friend Natalie who I haven't seen since 2004 and then Margo is in Chicago and I haven't seen her since I was stationed in Okinawa!  Fun times ahead!!!!

Last night I was upgraded from couch sleeping to an air mattress in Aunt Dorothy's house.  Aunt Dorothy passed about about 3 years ago and no one has slept in that house since.  Needless to say I was starting to get the heebee geebees but I got a text from a friend and we went back and forth for about an hour!  It really helped me settle down.  Granted when I needed to hit the bathroom in the middle of the night, I refused to get up until the sun was up LOL

Tomorrow I'm off to PA and IL :D  

Wedding Day

Well, I kinda stopped blogging on the word document due to a funk:(

OH my cousin is getting married today :) Not me :P

Slept on a different couch last night.  Maybe I can upgrade to a bed here really soon, my back is starting a revolt.

Updates....
Mom and Dad have a contract for the house on Grand Lake.  We are all praying that it goes smoothly with no issues.
There have been no body harm done to Honey.
Everyone is surviving.

I took two days for me.  I had Grandpa Nyander's chevy silverado that I've been driving around.  One day I went Fayetteville AR and did some window shopping.  The next day I went to Bluff Dweller's Cave and then to Joplin to get out of Honey's smoke shack and her judgements.  Dad called me when I was out and about and I came back early and then we heading over to his parents house for the night.

On Monday I'm heading out to visit my friend Natalie in Jamestown PA and then we are road tripping to Chicago to visit Margo.  It will be fun fun fun.  Haven't hung out with Natalie since 2004 and the last time I saw Margo we were at Kadena.  It's been awhile and I foresee alcohol in my future :)


... had to go bring Dad into the house to get ready for the wedding.  Last night he told me to bring him in around 10.  The Nyander's have 120 acres and Dad has access to tractors, so he's like a kid in a candy store!  I heard him at the bottom of some hill and did some sign language to bring him back up.  WOOT for some country living.  Looking forward to walking in the woods later today :)

A REAL convenience store!

31 May 2010

Happy Memorial Day!

This morning Dad, Mom, and I went over to the Nyander’s for a family get together.  Not everyone was there but it was a nice visit.  We eventually made it over to the Suttons.  We watched some videos of some country fun and the corolla coaster and some jeep driving. 

Before going over to the Nyander’s we stopped at a local gas station/convenience store for some beer and ice.  I was impressed with their liquor selection.  I was not aware there is an Ed Hardy beer now and even Budweiser is being mixed with something that resembled spicy tomato juice. But what was even MORE surprising of this convenience store in the middle of nowhere is that they sold sex toys.  Even better they were out in the open!  It wasn’t in a special area, or behind an “adults only beyond this point”, nothing…. it was just right there in a glass counter.  The pocket pussy was up against the glass along with the dildos!  Oh and you can buy buffalo meet there too! LOL

It’s been interesting :P

Not much today

30 May 2010

Today was a sort of slow day.  Mom and I went and picked up Dad.  He’s here for a couple of weeks.  When then stopped at Honey’s and picked up the girls and headed over to the Nyander’s house.  Grandma Nyander’s nieces are also visiting.  I met them a few years back at a funeral so it’s nice to see them on better terms.

One thing that I did hear but have heard before is that Great Grandma and Grandpa Nyander’s floor was made out of wood from a dance hall where Grand Lake is today.  I guess it was a dance hall they would go to a lot and when they were tearing it down due to the lake being made, they hauled off the wood floor and used it for their floor.  Their house is still standing and Mom and Dad may be staying there until they find a house to buy out here.  It’s right next to Grandma and Grandpa Nyander’s place. 

Today was pretty uneventful.  

The Devil!

30 May 2010

Mom and I pick up Dad today.  It will be another adjustment, but a good one.  He’ll just be here for a couple of weeks and then he heads back to Hawaii.  He has to stay there till October L 

Yesterday was interesting.  I woke up, and while I was drinking coffee in the kitchen David and Honey come walking in,

Me, “Good Morning”

David, “It’s up! Good Morning.”

Honey…. Just walked on by and continued with the conversation that her and David were having a about the difference between Advil and Ibuprofen.

O.k. I’ll let that go… but I had noticed over the past couple of days that Honey hasn’t interacted with me, ignored me, and has not even made eye contact with me.  I’ve lived with a person where you play the avoidance game and that was an obvious snub.  I pressed on with my morning and just did what I do.  I went outside to read a magazine and when I was coming in they were leaving.

Me, “where you guys off to?”

Honey, “We’re going to hell!”

I paused and then replied, “Well, have fun.”

I needed to use the Internet over my Aunt and Uncle’s house (the Suttons) so I headed over.  I stopped at the store to pick up some benadryl for the dogs and before going in I was talking with Dad about the morning’s drama (won't go into specifics but Honey, Mom, and I had a "talk").  His advice, “think of them as special needs children.”  Research as shown that as we get older we regress mentally and it is true!  I got to the Suttons and had a drink! I needed it after the morning :P Eventually we got Mom over there for some steaks and a movie so the day ended on a good note.

On the drive home I almost killed an armadillo.  They weren’t up this far before, I use to never see them, and so this is a recent road hazard along with deer and other critters. Then I got to Honey’s and had to kill a pretty big spider that was hanging out in the bathroom! Ugh 

Last night we watched Legion and I thought it was a good movie.  I liked the storyline.  Well, this morning Mom was telling David and Honey about the movie on the front porch and as God fearing country folk you’d think that they would find it interesting.  Well, Mom walked away and I hear David and Honey talked about that movie being devil’s work?!  I’m not sure why but I thought of the movie Waterboy… LOL

Mama Boucher: You gonna lose all your fancy "fools' balls" games! And your gonna fail your big exam! Because school is?
Bobby Boucher: The devil?
[Mama gasps]
Bobby Boucher: Everything is the devil to you, Mama! Well, I like school, and I like football! And I'm gonna keep doin' them both because they make me feel good! 

You got to laugh or else this place will kill you!

Country Livin... animals and bugs

28 May 2010

Quotes of the day:

Grandma Nyander was talking about birds making “about 4 batches that summer”.  No the birds were not baking cooking but having babies: P

Mom’s country quote of the day, “You know you’re going back the same way when you recognize the road kill.”

Is it a requirement that if you have a barn that it has to be red?

Anyhoo, today Mom and I went house hunting.  We met up with Alisa, the realtor, and went around Grand Lake.  We looked at about 7 properties, and out of those properties we only really liked one of the houses.  Alisa is a lot of fun and we enjoyed driving around with her.  Dad flies in on Sunday and on Tuesday it’s back to house hunting and we’ll show him the house we liked today.

We left early this morning so we could go by the Nyander’s and drop off the girls.  Guiselle wanted to bark at every animal on the way to Southwest City (population 855).  

After looking at houses we went back to the Nyander’s for lunch and to visit.  We hung out long enough for dinner, which was pancakes and ham :)

Being in the country I am getting use to all the bugs and animals.  A lot of bugs!  I got hit in the face just standing still by some sort of bug, obviously he wasn’t a good flyer :P  So far I have avoided ticks even though I did find one crawling on my pillow during the day, we’re thinking one of the girls brought it in.  As for the animals…. There are chicken coops everywhere (stinky stinky and disease infested… watch Food Inc. is a great movie and it’s on Hulu), cows everywhere, buffalo, horses here and there, farm dogs that we pray don’t get hit by cars, turtles (usually smashed on the road) along with raccoons, armadillos, cats, and other furry unidentifiable creatures dead on the road.  Today alone there was at least 4 road kills just driving to the Nyander’s. 

Tomorrow we might make it to the local farmer’s market.  Regardless of what goes on I need to get my plane ticket!  I’m taking a side trip on top of my current trip:D More to come on that later!

Craziness in the country...

27 May 2010

Some times you just have to shake your head and move on. 

I forgot to mention this incident from yesterday.  When Mom and I got into the car yesterday to go bowling/shopping with Honey and David we got in the backseat and the seat belt thing came up again (neither one wears their seat belts).

Mom “Guess there is no point in wearing a seatbelt around here” (this was said sarcastically… she knows better).

Both David and Honey proceeded to talk about all the car accidents that happen on their road, around town etc. etc.  Making OUR point that they SHOULD wear their seat belts!

Me “Yet more reasons not to wear your seatbelt.” Which was said under my breath, but Mom heard ;)

Today Mom and I followed David and Honey out to Grove so Mom could get her bearings for tomorrow.  We are meeting the realtor in Grove to go look at some houses on Grand Lake.

Driving through the country here there are plenty of chicken houses, and who knows what else.  Needless to say, you drive through some stinky stuff.

Mom, “You know you’ve been in Missouri too long which you can tell the difference between different types of shit smells” As of right now I can only pick out the chicken shit smell LOL

Another quote of the day:

David, “He’s just about as worthless as tits on a warthog.” 

Mom and I beat Honey and David home and we got to cooking the pot roast right away.  It was funny cuz we wanted to be done and have it in the oven before they got back.  Honey has become really particular with how things are done and we just wanted to be done so there were no problems.  At one point Mom spilled some stuff and it was like “oh shit, we need to hurry up and clean this up.”  Even Mom made a comment how sad that was, us to be scurrying around trying to get things done like we were doing something wrong: P 

Waiting for the roast to finish up we talked more story.  I wrote down the names of my ancestors to do a little research later on.  History is amazing, especially when it’s your own.  Turns out my family ended up in Philadelphia when they came over from Sicily.  Honey doesn’t remember what her grandparents did for a living but when they ended up in California she remembers an aunt working in a tobacco factory, another was at a lamp factory…and that was about it.  She remembers her grandfather not speaking any English and just smiling at her.  Honey’s father was a policeman in Huntington Beach California.

WOAH!  While typing this Honey got a phone call.  She answered and said, “He’s doing a crappy job”.  Apparently someone called and asked how she felt Obama was doing.  She voted for McCain cuz he had the most experience. 

Me, “Well, he picked a shitty running mate.”

Honey, “McCain has war experience, has felt pain and had to deal with struggles.” 

David then walked in “The president is only a figure head anyway, doesn’t have the final say in anything.”

Honey, “Like I said, Obama has no experience.”

I decided to keep my mouth shut :P

Apparently Honey (although nothing has been said to me) doesn’t think there is a need to shower/bathe every day. 

YES ladies and gentlemen you read that right (I wonder if this is an old person’s thing?)

I’ve noticed since I’ve been here that neither of them has showered.  I’ve showed every morning and I’m not going to stop.  According to the conversation with Mom, Honey bathes Saturday night for church on Sunday (yes, that’s one time a week).  I’m all for doing my good for the planet and conserving water but if you’re dirty and starting to stink you take a bath! Granted I have yet to “smell” either one of them but then again, they smoke constantly so that’s all I smell and they have killed their sense of smell long ago so it’s not like they could smell themselves! Honey explained to Mom that when she takes her weekly bath that there isn’t a dirt ring in the tub so obviously she’s not that dirty, so why bath every day?!  This house is dirty.  There is no getting around that.  

I’m in another era out here!!!!!

There are some PROS of being out here.  Farmer’s markets!  The roast we had today was from a happy cow.  It wasn’t bought at the store, and it was from right here locally!  He was a free grazer and he tasted good!  Honey and David get fresh eggs from the folks that run the liquor store that they stop at every Wednesday.  Mom and I are going to check out a farmer’s market on Saturday J  Plus being around this much family is nice, especially around the holidays. On Monday, Memorial Day, we are going over to the Nyander’s and a lot of the family will be there.  

Work Hazards

26 May 2010

More stories from the family :D

The other night we went and had dinner with the Suttons and had a breath of fresh technology (they have wireless) and good conversation and no smoke!  Found out that my Uncle Randy’s job is a tad more dangerous than the possibility of electrocution (he works for the power company).  Once a month he has to turn people’s power off.  Think of those repo shows and it’s kind of like that.  People that are getting their power turned off for lack of payment is not cuz they just forgot, usually there are other issues and most of the time are not pillars of society.  Randy had more than one story of having numerous cop cars with them, and even one where the cops actually pulled out their guns cuz some whacko ran back into his trailer.  This whacko comes back out with papers!  Totally not acknowledging all the guns pointed at him.  During all this commotion is when they turn off all the power and disconnect everything. 

On another visit, Randy goes up to the trailer and everything works out fine and the guy is nice, initially.  The guy offers for Randy to come in and when Randy reiterates that he needs to turn off the power the guy says, “If you turn off that power we’re going to have some problems”.  Randy leaves and gets cop back up!  And since it’s a small town the cops are all over any possibility of “action” and more than one patrol car will show up at these jobs.  Not a job that I would want to do. He goes out to the back woods to these trailers, that could be meth houses or worse, telling these guys they are getting their power turned off YUCK!  Who knows what type of crazies that you’d have to deal with!

My cousin, Kendra, works at the pharmacy and she has loads of funny customer stories too!  She has to deal with the druggies that try to score some free syringes.  Not only does she get the druggies but the abundance of old people that are heavily medicated.  Not a lot of dull days there! 

Kendra is getting married on 5 June.  It’s nice to be around that young love.  You don’t have a lot of worries, and are just so happy to be with each other.  They are enjoying themselves and the planning of the wedding.  The excitement and happiness is contagious and I’m happy that I will be here for the wedding. 

Mom is doing better out here and is thinking of the good things that will come of this.  They will be around the family for the holidays and be closer to the family.  All the other times they’ve been out here, it’s been for a visit and the time has been limited.  Now, Mom is like it’s not like I have to leave in a week or two :D I’m happy to see her doing better but I know it’s still hard for her.  The dogs are slowly adapting.  Today was the first day that they acted like themselves when it came to feeding time.  Mom says they’ve been depressed, not getting excited like they usually do but today was different.  I feel that the dog’s improvement also helps Mom.  Mom is getting her mental strength back!

Honey will randomly pull out old photos.  They are neat; I wish I had a scanner here so I can start scanning them.  I love the history.  It’s interesting to know how things have been laid out for where we are today.  Honey moved out of the house when she was in her teens due to a wicked stepmother.  She was in a boarding type house and Honey had a love, one that was in the military, and when he got out of the service he went back to Georgia (Honey was in the L.A. area).  He told Honey that when he got settled he’d send back for Honey.  Honey never heard from him and figured he didn’t want her.  Honey moved on and married someone else.  Turns out her landlady was hiding and keeping all the letters!  She felt that this guy was not good enough for Honey!  My family could have been some Georgia peaches :P  Later on Honey saw her landlady on the news.  Apparently she went a little crazy and shot her boyfriend and then shot her self!  Honey was a and still is a proud Navy wife.  My grandfather was a cook on the submarines, he was such a good cook that regardless of the trouble he got in they kept him on due to his bad ass cooking skills :) Unfortunately I didn’t get any of those mad skills.  He spent time on the Shark.  The lived on the east coast up in Maine and Mom remembers those days as some of the best of her childhood. 

Today is bowling and shopping.  Honey is on a league and my Mom got swindled into having to play also.  The team is short but I’m too young to play on the league (you have to be 55).  So I’m going to go and pray that they have wireless, even though it will be a shock if they do.  After bowling we go off to do shopping at Wal-Mart, so I get to see a lot of the natives so that should be entertaining.  Yesterday I got a taste of freedom and took Mom’s car to Town & Country (the local grocery store) to pick up some stuff up for a roast.  It felt wonderful to just drive, even if it was just 10 minutes away J Went in and picked up the stuff and when I was leaving shared a smile with a cute local boy.  Nothing lifts the spirits like a good ol’ flirt! 

On Friday Mom and I will start looking at houses on Grand Lake.  It should be fun.  Hopefully we find some good houses.  The quicker they find a house the better Mom will be.  We love family but it can be hard living in close quarters with them, with nothing to do.  I finished one book yesterday and I’ll be starting another one today at the bowling alley.  Honey said I could bowl while we were there, but I have no desire to bowl by myself. 

Funnies of the day:

Passed a gas station names “Kum n’ Go” No joke, Mom even pointed it out to me!

Honey explained to me that she doesn’t dry dishes, she just lets them air dry cuz towels carry germs. 

Me, “what if you use a clean towel?”

Pause

Honey, “It still has germs on it.  I don’t remember where I heard about it, but I just let them air dry.”

THIS after she killed a fly on her kitchen table and picked it up with her bare hands and went on with her day (no washing of the hands that I noticed).  Oh and no she did not wipe down the table.

Stopping at the liquor store on the way home Honey instructed us to get out, we had to go into the store.

Mom, “Why do we need to go in the store?”

Me, “We get to meet new people”

Side note Honey enjoys introducing us to EVERYONE even if we have no desire to meet people.  A quick run Mom took with Honey to Town & Country this morning resulted in stopping at the bank and other places so Honey could show her off.  Cute as it is, it’s annoying.

Mom has NO desire to get out of the car and “meet new people” just because.

Mom, “Why do we have to get out?”

Honey, “Respect your elders and get out of the car”

Mom, “I just want to know why I have to get out of the car”

Sigh :P

I get out and play tourist: P I take a picture of the PBR sign and the liquor store.  I may look like a dork taking pictures of random stuff, but it’s funny to me and looking back on these photos will give me a chuckle :D

Bucking the system

24 May 2010

Second day in Anderson, Missouri… population 1,856.   Main street is one way!

According to my brother, most of the population is in the cemetery, or at least have one foot in the grave!

Mom and Honey took off to get Mom’s new car. 

I’m trying to stay awake.  There is nothing to do and David is watching the Price Is Right.  It still looks old to me, even though it’s current if that makes any sense?! 

Yesterday, for a little bit, we talked story / BS’d / reminisced… whatever you want to call it.  My great grandfather taught John Wayne how to shoot, and my Sicilian ancestors left Sicily due to mafia issues and love (isn’t that why anyone moves to another country?).  Maybe that’s where I get my drive for adventure and the hope that love will prevail :D

I “tried” to borrow Honey’s car so I could go to town and get something at the store, well that didn’t work out and she drove me.  I have a feeling I won’t get to “borrow” her car the whole time I’m here.  Thank goodness Mom is getting her car today.  I might get some freedom time here and there.  I am sleeping on the living room couch if that paints a picture for you :P 

Getting into the car Honey has the passenger’s seat belt already buckled.  I unbuckled it cuz I do wear my seatbelt while in  a car. 

“Are you going to use that?” Honey,

“Yes, seat belts save lives” me. 

Apparently, according to Mom, Honey and David boycott the use of seatbelts due to it’s the government telling them what they should be doing!  FIGHT THE POWER?!  That right there should let you all know what kind of weeks I’ll be having.

I think I was getting over my head cold but now I’m not sure if it’s allergies or the smoke that is bothering me.  If anyone questions what smoking does to your lungs, should come visit my grandma Honey.  There is a yellow tinge to everything, and the ceiling has a burnt yellow/orange tinge to it.  No, not a tinge… it’s freakn’ just burnt yellow/orange.  

Traveling fool....

Well, internet capabilities out here is hit or miss.  I've been "blogging" on a word document and I'll just transfer it over when I have the time and the capabilities. 

23 May 2010 

Flying into Arkansas

OH MY GOD!  It’s been forever since I’ve been back in Missouri.  Some things have changed, others have not. 

The flight out here was pretty uneventful.  I didn’t get any sleep on the plane but managed to finish one book on my iPad and started a second one.  I love that thing!  If I didn’t have that I’d be lugging around books in my bag:P  The dogs were troopers and when we picked them up in Arkansas, they were fine and even chill.  

Mom was very impressed.  Before we knew it we were at Honey and David’s.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been back here.  They got a new floor (got rid of the carpet) and the ceiling in more yellow (bleh).            that's the ceiling!!!!

I’m grateful for open windows and a strong breeze (they are both smokers).  I still have my head cold that I got back in Hawaii.  But now I’m not sure if it’s still my cold, allergies, or the smoke?!  I popped a Claritin so we will see how that goes.  Honey and David are somewhat anti technology so no Internet at their place, so I’m grateful for the iPhone and other family members that are into this technology thing LOL 

Mom has mentioned a few times that this whole thing is surreal and feels like a dream.  I’m feeling it to.  I was in Hawaii 24 hours ago.  I have no idea what is going on in my future, I’m moving, I’m in Missouri for three weeks…. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?  In yet another free fall of my life.  I should be use to these things, but I’m not.  They are emotional and draining.